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| (Image credit : U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung) |
The B-1B Lancer is a long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber, which has served the United States Air Force since 1985.
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(Image credit : Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK / Wiki Common)
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The B-1B Lancer carries the largest payload of both guided and unguided munitions in the entire United States Air Force Inventory.
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(Image credit : U.S. Air Force photo/Steve Zapka)
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The B-1B Lancer onboard self-protection electronic jamming equipment, radar warning receiver (ALQ-161) and expendable countermeasures (chaff and flare) system and a towed decoy system (ALE-50) complements its low-radar cross-section to form an integrated, robust defense system that supports penetration of hostile airspace. The ALQ-161 electronic countermeasures system detects and identifies the full spectrum of adversary threat emitters then applies the appropriate jamming technique either automatically or through operator inputs.
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(Image credit : Desiree N. Palacios / Wiki Common)
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The B-1B Lancer blended wing/body configuration, variable-geometry wings, and turbofan afterburning engines give it expert maneuverability and allow it to travel at extremely high speeds. The forward wings are used for landings, takeoffs, in-air refueling, and some weapons employment. The craft's aft wing sweep settings are designed for high subsonic and supersonic flight, which gives the B-1B Lancer capabilities in both low- and high-altitude settings.
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(Image credit : U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs Photo by Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz)
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The B-1B Lancer speed and handling characteristics are more like a fighter, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into large force strike packages.
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(Image credit : U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lance Cheung)
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The Synthetic Aperture Radar aboard the B-1B Lancer is capable of tracking, targeting, and engaging moving vehicles, and features both terrain-following and self-targeting modes.
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(Image credit : Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz / Wiki Common)
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The B-1B Lancer holds almost 50 world records for speed, payload, range, and time of climb in its class.
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(Image credit : U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Joshua Strang)
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The B-1B Lancer is also known as "The Bone."
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(Image credit : U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jeff Fitch)
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The aircraft is on track to continue flying, at current demanding operations tempo, out to 2040 and beyond, and Boeing partners with the Air Force to keep the B-1 mission ready.
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(Image credit : Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz / Wiki Common)
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Originally designed for nuclear capabilities, the B-1 switched to an exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s. In 1999, during Operation Allied Force, six B-1s flew 2 percent of the strike missions, yet dropped 20 percent of the ordnance, and during Operation Enduring Freedom the B-1 flew on 2 percent of the sorties while dropping over 40 percent of the precision weapons. The B-1 has been nearly continuously deployed in combat operations over Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber
Contractor: Boeing, North America (formerly Rockwell International, North American Aircraft); Offensive avionics, Boeing Military Airplane; Defensive Avionics, EDO Corporation
Power plant: Four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner
Thrust: 30,000-plus pounds with afterburner, per engine
Wingspan: 137 feet (41.8 meters) extended forward, 79 feet (24.1 meters) swept aft
Length: 146 feet (44.5 meters)
Height: 34 feet (10.4 meters)
Weight: approximately 190,000 pounds (86,183 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 477,000 pounds (216,634 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 265,274 pounds (120,326 kilograms)
Payload: 75,000 pounds (34,019 kilograms)
Speed: 900-plus mph (Mach 1.2 at sea level)
Range: Intercontinental
Ceiling: More than 30,000 feet (9,144 meters)
Armament: 84 500-pound Mk-82 or 24 2,000-pound Mk-84 general purpose bombs; up to 84 500-pound Mk-62 or 8 2,000-pound Mk-65 Quick Strike naval mines; 30 cluster munitions (CBU-87, -89, -97) or 30 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers (CBU-103, -104, -105); up to 24 2,000-pound GBU-31 or 15 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions; up to 24 AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles; 15 GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions
Crew: Four (aircraft commander, copilot, and two combat systems officers)
Unit Cost: $317 million
Initial operating capability: October 1986
Inventory: Active force, 62 (test, 2); ANG, 0; Reserve, 0
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